The Rumanian who is believed to be the mastermind behind the illegal withdrawal of millions of rupees from Automatic Teller Machines by forging ATM cards (with the help of two Sri Lankans) was apprehended by the Criminal Investigation Department at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Saturday night, sources said. The suspect, who is believed to have withdrawn millions of rupees using forged ATM cards, is reportedly the leader of underworld gang based in an East Asian country. Some days ago he had left Sri Lanka for Italy. However, the Counterfeit Currency Investigation Unit of the CID had received information that the suspect would be returning to Sri Lanka on Saturday night. Officers attached to the unit had lain in wait at the airport and apprehended him.

The suspect was arrested following information received by the CID, a top official said.

4 Responses to ATM fraud: Rumanian mastermind arrested

All banks have a duty to prevent fraud at ATMs by having their security staff check the machine every so often daily that no gadget has been fitted at the point where the cards is inserted, to record information such as PIN. They should also have a CCTV camera fitted for a visual record of all people who use ATMs. Anyone attempting to fit a gadget to it would also be on camera then. Security staff should also monitor the CCTV continuously. It is also important that INTERPOL make banks throughout the world aware of gangs that steal from ATMs by fitting such gadgets and their modus operandi. LTTE are also notorious for this fraud in foreign countries at banks and petrol stations.

Asees, what do you mean by the Chinese? If you mean China is responsible for ATM fraud you are very wrong.

This fraud was started in Europe by Armenian mafia. It spread fast as other organised criminals shared the technology. It is not very clear who invented the electronic device, which is same metalic clour as the ATM machine and is fitted skillfully over the mouth of the ATM where the card is inserted, to record all transactions, the card details, including the PIN. Using blank cards with a microchip, the gangs then produce duplicate cards using an encoding machine, based on the information they have recorded. These are used to withdraw monies all over the world from unsuspecting card holders.

When I use an ATM I first check carefully, visually and with my hands that there is no separate device fitted at the mouth of the ATM where the card is inserted. Only then do I carry out my transcation. If I have reason to suspect fraud I immediately alert the bank manager.

At petrol filling stations in UK, where many Tamils work as cashiers, a special electronic device has been fitted inside the card reader. So when people pay by card this device records all the information. It is then collected by LTTE special operatives in UK to produce duplicate cards and syphon-off money from unsuspecting account holders. LTTE gang behind this had been arrested but the British government did not allow the gang to be prosecuted. The British government quietly swept the matter under the carpet, thus siding with the LTTE. This fraud was repeated by LTTE throughout Europe.

There you are. The Tamils are racketeers. Wherever there is a Tamil, there is some sort of racket. Can you now understand why I loathe and fear harmony-preaching sleepers? They are still very active, under training for that moment where they will attack innocent civilians including vilaagers and children, with bombs and machetes. This is the only reason why I have been propgating the idea of throwing Pillyan the sleeper and his harem in waiting to Tamil Nadu. We cannot do this by force as we did with their child soldiers. We have to be diplomatic and get it done via perhaps the UN.